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\f0\b\fs24 \cf0 \'91Dangerous Degrees\'92: Climate Change Risks Prosperity, Security and Health\
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\b0 \cf0 August 8, 2013 - Today, 3 Australian leaders, each from different backgrounds, came together in hard hats and fluoro vests to launch a new report by the Climate Institute. It warns of the ways ithat climate change risks the world's health, prosperity and security.\
Entitled "Dangerous Degrees: Risking Australians\'92 prosperity, security, and health,\'94 the report was released August 8th at a scientific symposium by Dr. John Hewson, former Liberal Party leader; Professor Tony McMichael, Australia National University\'92s Climate Change Institute; \'a0and John Connor, CEO of The Climate Institute.\
They had a grave warning for their audience at the report launch: "Carbon pollution in the atmosphere has risen by 40% since the start of the Industrial Revolution. It\'92s now at levels greater than at any time for least 800,000, possibly millions, of years. We are stumbling blindly into utterly uncharted territory, where a few degrees make a world of difference."\
The report\'92s conclusions, supported by several other recent studies, show that failure to take prompt action to curtail emissions risks the future prosperity, security and health of Australians, and the rest of the world. According to research in
\i Nature
\i0 last month, climate change is projected to cost the world economy $60 trillion. Earlier this week, a report by the Australian Senate said that extreme weather in Australia will intensify. It has already cost the national economy between $900 million and $4 billion a year.\
Of important note in \'93Dangerous Degrees\'94 is the conclusion that Australia is more exposed to climate risks than any other developed nation. If the world remains on track to reach a 3\'b0C of warming by 2050 and 4\'b0C by 2100, Australia could become a net importer of food by 2050 and lose 90% of its irrigated agriculture in the Murray\'96Darling Basin by 2100. About 2,000 more temperature-related deaths are expected by mid-century, and around 10,000 more by 2100.\
Professor Tony McMichael said: \'93The symptoms we already see in people beleaguered by bushfire, storms, floods, and drought are the early warming signs. The risks to physical and mental health, as well as community morale, mount with every year\'a0we fail to act decisively. Yet, there is still time to avoid much additional human suffering, to realize the health benefits of action, and to restore hope.\
While the risks become clearer by the day, the Climate Institute says the political framework for climate action and adaptation remains insufficient to address the challenges ahead \'97 a conclusion reinforced by the Australian Senate report, which says Australia is underprepared for the impacts of just a few degrees of warming. While closing the gap between danger and relative safety is still within reach, it is only possible if action begins now.\
Delay in ambitious climate action means higher social, environmental, and economic costs, as well as fewer options. While Australia can count itself among the growing number of nations moving to cut emissions, the political statements made in the run-up to the nearing Australian election aim to water down several important climate policies.\
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\cf0 http://tcktcktck.org/2013/08/dangerous-degrees-climate-change-risks-prosperity-security-and-health/55761?goback=%2Egde_119460_member_264649895#sthash.luUplWeI.dpuf}